Union suit



Jan 24, 1928.

G. E. RUTLEDGE UNION SUIT Filed June 1. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l V [:zrerzzor GEORGE 1.. Run. E0 615 JTToRA/gYS' G. E. RUTLEDGE UNION SUIT Jan. 24, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1. 1925 I fm enz or GEORGE 5 190715065 m W [Trams/Ens Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,657,094 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGEQE. BUTLEIJGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABBIGNOB TO VASSAR SWISS UNDER- WEAR CO., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 01' ILLINOIS.

UNION SUIT.

Application filed June 1, 1825; Serial No. 84,032.

My invention relates to the union type of undergarments, particularly to garments of woven, substantially non-stretchable material; and one object of the invent on 1s to 5 provide an insert means which w ll adaptthe garment for a bendin or sitting position of the wearer without rawing or stralning the arment.

A furt or object is to provide a union'type 1 of garment having means for adapting it to a stout or corpulent person, the garment yielding transversely or through the waist line to fit a person of large waist measure and be comfortable for such a person in the different positions assumed while wearing the garment.

A further object is to provide means in the seat opening of the garment to allow for waist expansion or stretching of that portion of the garment.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a rear view of the garment illustrating its fit to the body of the wearer in an upright position;

Figure 2 is a view showing how the back insert will yield vertically or lengthwise of the garment to allow the wearer to assume a comfortable stooping position;

Figure 3 is a side View showing the garment worn by a corpulent person with the side inserts stretched or expanded to accom mod-ate the waist line of such a person;

Figure 4 is a view showing the insert between the seat portion of the garment and the leg portion.

In the drawing, 2 represents the body of the garment made of suitable material, preferably woven, and of the usual pattern for a garment of this type.

In the back portion, at the waist line, preferably in the center, I arrange a strip of fabric 3, preferably of knit material, with the wales running horizontally, or across the back of the garment, so that when the wearer assumes a stooping or bending position as indicated in Figure 2, the insert will stretch and accommodate itself to the change in position, and prevent the garment from drawing or chafing the wearer in the neck or the crotch. This insert may be made of any suitable length and width to obtain the best results. At each end of the back insert, extend ng towards the side of the garment, I provide nserts 4 preferabl triangular in arm as indicated, thou h 0 course I do not confine myself to this s ape. These inserts are preferably of knitted material but the wales instead of running horizontally extend vertically, or len thwise of the arment, as indicated in igure 1, and w ile having little or no extension or stretch when the wearer, assumes the position shown in Figure 2 will be capable of extension horizontally or around the waist line to accommodate certain positions which the wearer may assume and particularly adapt the garment for a stout or corpulent person, as indicated in Figure 3, where the wales are shown as drawn or pulled apart to allow the garment to conform to the shape of the 75 wearer without applying any stretch or strain to thematerial of which the garment is composed, and without, therefore, causing discomfort to the wearer. These side inserts, as indicated in Fi ures 1 and 3, are on a line substantially wit the upper edge of the back insert but extend below it towards or into the leg portions of the garment, and thus particularly adapt the garment for expansion through the waist line. The garment has the usual seat portion 5 and a leg or flap portion 6 lapping each other and may have the usual buttonhole connection 7 between them, though with the lapping arrangement of the leg and seat portions a fastening means may be omitted.

At the point where the leg portion 6 joins the seat portion at the waist line, I prefer to provide an insert 8, preferably of knitted material, and usually triangular in form, joined on one side to the seat portion 5, and joined on the opposite side to the flap or 1 portion 6. This triangular portion is pre erably loose between the points where it is joined to the garment and permits a certain additional degree of elasticity around the waist and adds to the comfort of the wearer, the wales running up and down, or vertically, allowing horizontal stretch or expansion of the garment and accommodating the different positions of standing or sitting which may be assumed b the wearer. The leg portion normally wil hang down over and conceal the opening between it and the seat portion and t 1e constructlon of the garno Inent will tend to keep this opening closed when the wearer is in a standing position as indicated in Figure 1 without the aid of buttons or other fastening means. This result, I accomplish, by allowing for a considerable degree of lap between the seat portion and the leg portion as indicated by the turned-up edge of the leg portion in F 1gare 2.

I claim as my invention:

1. A union undergarment having anopening down one leg between the seat and leg portion, and an elastic insert joined on one side to the seat portion and on the other side to the leg portion near the waist line and adapted to yield horizontally to provlde for elasticity of the garment at the waist line.

2. A union undergarment having an opening down one leg between the seat and leg portion, an insert joined on one side to the seat portion and on the other side to the leg portion near the waist line and adapted to yield horizontally to provide additional elasticity of thegarment at the waist line, the leg portion of the garment depending over said insert and its point of attachment to said seat portion and overlapping the loose edge of said seat ortion a substantial distance to normally cl ose the opening between said seat and leg portion without the use of a fastening means.

3. A union undergarment having an opening down one leg between the seat and leg portion, a back insert extending transversely of the garment and adapted to stretch vertically, an insertjoined on one side to the seat portion and on the other side to the leg portion near the waist line and adapted to yield horizontally to provide additional elasticity of the garment at the waist line, side inserts provided at the ends of said back insert and adapted to yield horizontally, one of said side inserts extending into the leg portion of the garment and depending therewith over the leg and seat insert at its point of attachment to said seat portion, and overlapping the loose edge of said seat portion.

4. A union undergarment having an opening down one leg between the seat and leg portion, a back insert composed of knitted tabric extending across the back of the garment and adapted to yield vertically, side inserts interposed between said back insert and the front of the garment and adapted to yield horizontally to adapt the arment for increased stretch at the waist 'ne, the upper ends of said side inserts terminating adjacent said back insert and their lower ends depending below said back insert and one of said side inserts extending downwardly into the leg portion of the garment and cooperating with said leg portion to overlap the loose edge of the seat portion a substantial distance.

5. A union nndergarment having a transverse insert at the waist line comprising a center section adapted to stretch in a vertical direction, and additional sections one at each end adapted to stretch in a horizontal direction, each end section adapted to overlie a portion of the corresponding buttock of the wearer, each end section extending below the center section and having its front edge lying substantially on a side seam line.

6. A union nndergarment having a transverse insert in the back and at the waist line, comprising a center section adapted to stretch in a vertical direction, and additional sections one at each end adapted to stretch in a horizontal direction, each end section adapted to overlie a portion of the corresponding buttock of the wearer, said insert extending substantially from one side seam to the other.

7. A union undergarment having a transverse back insert at the waist, comprising a center section adapted to stretch in a vertical direction, and additional side sections one at each end of the center section and adapted to stretch in a horizontal direction and further adapted to overlie the outer upper portion of the corresponding buttock of the wearer, each end section extending below the center section and having its front and rear edges convergent downwardly.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1925.

GEORGE E. RUTLEDGE. 

